King's major success began in the 1960s when she and her first husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote more than two dozen chart hits, many of which have become standards, for numerous artists. She has continued writing for other artists since then. King's success as a performer in her own right did not come until the 1970s, when she sang her own songs, accompanying herself on the piano, in a series of albums and concerts. After experiencing commercial disappointment with her debut album Writer, King scored her breakthrough with the album Tapestry, which topped the U.S. album chart for 15 weeks in 1971 and remained on the charts for more than six years.
King has made 25 solo albums, the most successful being Tapestry, which held the record for most weeks at No. 1 by a female artist for more than 20 years. Her record sales were estimated at more than 75 million copies worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She has been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a performer and songwriter. She is the recipient of the 2013 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the first woman to be so honored. She is also a 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_King
Studio albums
Writer (1970)
Tapestry (1971)
Music (1971)
Rhymes & Reasons (1972)
Fantasy (1973)
Wrap Around Joy (1974)
Thoroughbred (1976)
Simple Things (1977)
Welcome Home (1978)
Touch the Sky (1979)
Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King (1980)
One to One (1982)
Speeding Time (1983)
City Streets (1989)
Colour of Your Dreams (1993)
Love Makes the World (2001)
A Holiday Carole (2011)
You're The One Who Knows
Carole King Lyrics
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Crystal mourners are drawing me to Babylon
Can you really stay yourself and flow with dedication
You're the one who knows and now you're gone
We got a feeling and I'm gonna try to keep it for a long time
It was a wrong time, though we had so much to travel on
Can you hold the love I gave in joyful consummation
Can you see my reflection in the facets of the prisms that you gave me
One day I am yellow
One day I am blue--can you save me
I'll be yours forever in the secret magic forest
That we dreamed about together
Can you see the color that I am today
I know I wanna stay in a good way
Waking up alone I find my mind is calling out
And I know you feel me
You know the real me is whatever color love takes on
Can you live with someone who's a mistress of illusion
You're the one who knows and now you're gone
In "You're The One Who Knows," Carole King reflects on a relationship that has ended but the memories and feelings remain. The opening lines present a scene where the singer wakes up alone and feels a sense of detachment from reality. She metaphorically refers to "crystal mourners" drawing her to Babylon, which could be interpreted as a place of great beauty or temptation, but perhaps a place she no longer desires or belongs in. She then questions whether it's possible to maintain one's identity while committing to something or someone. The phrase "you're the one who knows and now you're gone" appears twice and implies that her partner was the only one who understood her completely but is no longer present.
The second stanza expresses the desire to cherish and preserve the love they shared, despite the timing being wrong for them. She wonders if her partner can still feel the connection and love she gave them. The line "Can you hold the love I gave in joyful consummation" speaks of the transformative power of love, which can bring individuals together but also changes people forever.
The final stanza contains the most vivid metaphor of the song. The prisms represent the relationship, which refracts different colors, emotions, and experiences. The singer oscillates between yellow and blue, which could signify light and dark, happy and sad, and different emotional states. She asks if her partner can still save her and if they can see the complexity of who she is. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer believing that her partner knows her true essence and will always be connected to her.
Line by Line Meaning
Waking up alone, I find my mind is reaching out to distant corners
I wake up alone, with my thoughts wandering to unknown places.
Crystal mourners are drawing me to Babylon
My sorrow and pain are leading me to a place of destruction and chaos.
Can you really stay yourself and flow with dedication
Can you truly be yourself and stay committed to your goals?
You're the one who knows and now you're gone
Only you have the answers and now you're gone.
We got a feeling and I'm gonna try to keep it for a long time
We have a special connection and I want to hold onto it for as long as possible.
It was a wrong time, though we had so much to travel on
We met at the wrong time, even though we had a lot of potential together.
Can you hold the love I gave in joyful consummation
Can you cherish the love that we shared when we were happy?
Can you see my reflection in the facets of the prisms that you gave me
Can you see yourself in the gifts that you gave me?
One day I am yellow
One day my emotions are bright, like the color yellow.
One day I am blue--can you save me
Other days, my emotions are heavy, like the color blue. Can you help me?
I'll be yours forever in the secret magic forest
I am committed to you forever, in a world of our own creation.
That we dreamed about together
A world that we envisioned together.
Can you see the color that I am today
Can you understand how I'm feeling right now?
I know I wanna stay in a good way
I know I want to remain positive and happy.
Waking up alone I find my mind is calling out
When I wake up alone, my mind is seeking attention and connection.
And I know you feel me
I know you can sense my thoughts and feelings.
You know the real me is whatever color love takes on
You know the true essence of me is defined by the love I have in my life.
Can you live with someone who's a mistress of illusion
Can you accept someone who lives in a world of fantasy and imagination?
You're the one who knows and now you're gone
Only you understood me, but now you're no longer here.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind